Early in the morning that day, King Lu Xi of Qi invited Shu Pan, the lord of Lu, and many ministers from Qi and Lu to the military conference hall in the "Pi" fortress.
Because it is in a fortress, the so-called military meeting hall is very simple. It is nothing more than a large room covered with wooden boards. However, the wooden boards used here are all painted with paint from Chu State according to the preference of King Lu Xi of Qi.
The precious purple paint showed Qi's wealth in disguise.
"The king is gathering everyone today. Could it be that there is a breakthrough on the east and west routes?"
After everyone sat down, Shu Pan, the lord of the Lu Kingdom, saw King Lu Xi of Qi with a look of joy on his face, and asked curiously.
Unexpectedly, after hearing this, Lu Xi laughed, took out a good news report from his arms, raised it in his hand, and said with a smile: "I just received the good news from Tian Dan. The good news said that he had already died one day ago.
Defeat "Zhong Wu",
At present, the main army is divided into two groups, one is attacking "Lanling" and the other is attacking "Liyang"... And just before he wrote this victory report, Tian Dan defeated Chu Liyang's army Xiong Sheng. Now Lanxi is also about to be defeated, and Liyang is also about to be defeated.
It's about to be broken..."
Hearing this, there was an uproar in the room. Both the ministers of Qi and Lu had expressions of astonishment on their faces.
How long has it been?
Tian Dan has already conquered one city and is about to conquer three cities?
He is worthy of being a "Famous General of the Qi Dynasty"!
Amidst the exclamations of the crowd, Qi King Lu Xi turned around and sat next to him. Shupan, the lord of the Lu State who was his equal, said: "Tian Dan said in the letter that he achieved such an advantage this time thanks to the Lu State.
Weapons made by skilled craftsmen."
"I don't dare to take it, I don't dare to take it." Seeing King Lu Xi of Qi deliberately mentioning the achievements of the Lu State, Shupan, the lord of the Lu State, waved his hands with a smile.
It has to be said that the relationship between Qi and Lu during this period was indeed as solid as a rock, because Qi was not only strong in national power and supported Lu's economy, but Qi King Lu Xi was also quite good at life and praised Lu from time to time.
, which made Lu the strongest ally of Qi as always.
However, just as everyone was celebrating, a discordant voice sounded in the hall.
"The East Route Army is singing a triumphal song, but what about the progress of the West Route Army?"
The hall suddenly became quiet, and they turned to look at the person who spoke.
"It's this Tian Guang again..."
Including the Lord of Lu, Shu Pan, all the Dukes and ministers of Lu in the palace subconsciously closed their mouths and pretended not to hear anything.
Because this is an internal matter of Qi State.
Yes, the person who spoke at this time was Tian Guang, the right minister of Qi State.
The Tian family is a common surname in Qi State, but not all Tian families come from one branch.
For example, Tian Dan and Tian Tao are from the "Linzi Tian family", while Tian Huang, the right prime minister, is from the "Binhai Tian family". Therefore, although they are both "Tian family", their genealogies and ancestry are all different.
However, it is undeniable that they are all officials and nobles of Qi State.
"Tian Qing." The smile on Qi Wang Lu Xi's face gradually faded, and he said calmly: "Today, Tian Dan sent a good news. It is worth celebrating, so don't spoil the atmosphere..."
Upon hearing this, Tian Guang, the right minister of Qi State, quickly apologized and said: "Please forgive me, your Majesty. I also feel this. ... Our generals of Da Qi are unstoppable on the east road and are about to conquer three cities. Why is there no news about the west route army?"
What about none?" As he said this, he glanced at the Prime Minister of the Left, Ji Zhao, Zhao Hongrun's brother Zhao Hongrun, intentionally or unintentionally.
Hearing this, Ji Zhao couldn't help but smile bitterly in his heart.
He and Tian Huan were old acquaintances who had clashed several times, and he also understood that Tian Huan had always disliked him.
The reason is that Tian Kuang has a son who is similar in age to Qi Wang Lu Xi's most beloved daughter Kuan Ji. Therefore, the Binhai Tian family has always hoped that Tian Kuang's son can become Qi Wang Lu Xi's son-in-law. Therefore, over the years,
He often made insidious hints in front of King Qi Lu Xi, but King Qi ignored him.
Unexpectedly, two years ago, Ji Zhao, a prostitute of Wei who was not welcomed by the Qi court, suddenly gained the favor of King Lu Xi of Qi. Not only did the latter betroth his most beloved daughter Kui Ji to Ji Zhao, but also Ji Zhao
Zhao Zhao was promoted to the high-power position of Right Prime Minister in one breath.
That's all. Unexpectedly, last year, Qi King Lu Xi's preference for Ji Zhao intensified, and he even risked his disapproval to ask Ji Zhao to change positions with Tian Kuang, who was the left prime minister at the time.
At first, when they heard the words of King Lu Xi of Qi in the court, "Tian Kuang, please switch with Ji Zhao," neither Tian Kuang nor the officials of Qi took this matter too seriously.
After all, King Lu Xi of Qi always liked to play. He once demoted a certain official to the stable to feed the horses, and let the groom who was originally feeding the horses in the stable take over the former's position.
This kind of thing that seems unbelievable in other countries is not uncommon here in Qi. After all, King Lu Xi of Qi was originally a moody person who was difficult to figure out.
Therefore, Tian Huan only thought that it was just a pastime for King Qi Lu Xi to have nothing to do, so he agreed with a smile. Anyway, in his opinion, Ji Zhao and Ji Zhao would be able to change back in a few days.
.
Unexpectedly, after several months, King Lu Xi of Qi did not mention this matter again. At this time, Tian Huan felt that something was wrong.
But at that time, the rice had already been cooked, and the Qi court no longer paid attention to this matter. Even Tian Guang could not bring it up rashly. After all, Qi King Lu Xi did not think it was right to laugh and joke on weekdays, but he only had to get along with each other.
Only those who have been around for a long time know that this is an extremely decisive king.
It was not until a few months ago that King Lu Xi of Qi handed over the naval force equipped with fireball boats in the north of Qi to Ji Zhao, and used this to gain the support of Wei, Tian Huang suddenly realized: This is King of Qi's
Lu Xi was preparing an escape route.
King Lu Xi of Qi transferred all the power of Qi to Ji Zhao as much as possible, in order to enable Ji Zhao to have the ability to make Qi peacefully survive the period of Lu Xi's death and avoid some bad things from happening.
What bad thing?
The Binhaitian family, as the most powerful aristocrat in Qi State who is not a prince named Lu, Qi King Lu Xi did not entrust important tasks before his death. Instead, he secretly weakened the Binhaitian family, supported Ji Zhao, who was born in Wei State, and tried his best to serve the Binhaitian family.
Its recruitment team, what this means, is self-evident.
Lu Xi is also on guard against the Binhaitian family!
This is not groundless, because there were rumors in the Qi State that the Tian family was becoming more powerful and might replace the Lu family in the future.
At that time, King Lu Xi of Qi was laughing and disapproving, but who can guarantee that the king did not have the idea of weakening the Tian family?
As for Tian Huan, he had no intention of replacing Lu. He was simply unhappy with Ji Zhao.
How could a person who was born as a prince in the Kingdom of Wei hold an important position in the Kingdom of Qi and hold great power?
Furthermore, Tian Kuang worked hard for Qi, so why did Qi King Lu Xi not trust him as much as Ji Zhao, a foreigner?
It was also from that time that Tian Kuang targeted Ji Zhao from time to time, including currently using the results of the Eastern Route Army to ridicule the incompetence of the Wei people.
It has to be said that under the leadership of Tian Huan, the Qi officials in the palace couldn't help but talk about it.
Some ministers from the right-hand minister Tian Kuang's lineage may have spoken out, implicitly pointing out that King Lu Xi of Qi should not have listened to the slander and appointed Ji Run, a young boy of fifteen or sixteen, as the commander-in-chief of the West Route Army.
All in all, it was to demote Zhao Hongrun to a worthless position by elevating Tian Dan's status.
Some people even suggested that the commander-in-chief of the Western Route Army be replaced and that capable generals from Qi be sent there.
"Are these guys out of their minds?"
King Lu Xi of Qi said nothing, but looked at the ministers in the palace indifferently, and sneered in his heart.
You must know that Qi and Lu have had an alliance for more than a hundred years, so even Qi generals can command the Lu army.
However, the State of Wei has just joined the "Three Kingdoms Alliance of Qi, Lu and Wei". You want a Qi man to command the Wei army?
It has to be something bad!
However, King Lu Xi of Qi did not explain these words, because he knew that the ministers in the palace were ostensibly targeting Ji Run, the young Su Wang of Wei, but in fact, they were targeting Lu Xi's son-in-law Ji Zhao.
He turned to look at his son-in-law Ji Zhao and saw that the latter was still sitting calmly. He secretly praised him a few times and then said: "Prime Minister Zuo, do you have something to say?"
Ji Zhao smiled slightly, saluted the ministers in the palace, and said politely: "Returning to the king, I have nothing to say... I think that what the ministers said is the truth. I think back then, Chu Yangcheng
Jun Xiongtuo led an army of 160,000 to invade his home country, the Wei Dynasty. He never thought that my brother Ji Run would defeat him with only 35,000 troops, and even lose a large area of his country...Furthermore,
Perhaps all the ministers here do not know that last year, the Jie people from Sanchuan provoked my home country, the Wei Dynasty, and raised an army of two to three hundred thousand men to attack the Wei Dynasty. They never thought that my brother Ji Run would lead his army out of the pass and defeat the Wei Dynasty within a few months.
To quell this war..."
"These words are quite poisonous..."
King Qi Lu Xi touched his chin and looked at Ji Zhao with interest.
As expected, Ji Zhao's words made the expressions of the ministers in the palace suddenly change, and one of them asked in a bad tone: "Master Zuo Xiang, are you saying that we are short-sighted?"
"I didn't say it." Ji Zhao smiled and shook his head, but the smile on his face seemed to say: You said it yourself.
How arrogant!
All the Dukes of Qi in the palace suddenly looked indignant and accused Ji Zhao one after another.
But at this moment, someone outside the palace suddenly shouted: "Report! The West Route Army has sent a victory report!"
There was a sudden silence in the palace, and those ministers who had been denounced Ji Zhao just now were all dumbfounded.
"Boy Ji Run, after all, he did not disappoint me and his brother Wang. I hope his good news can shut up those noisy guys in this room!"
With this in mind, King Qi Lu Xi pointed at Ji Zhao with a smile and said: "Give it to the left prime minister."
"yes!"
The messenger Qi Bing delivered the good news to Ji Zhao.
In front of everyone, Ji Zhao casually opened the wooden box, took out the battle report, and then opened it and glanced at it.
"How is the battle situation of the West Route Army?"
King Lu Xi of Qi asked deliberately.
Ji Zhao smiled slightly and said calmly: "It's nothing, but at the cost of more than 5,000 soldiers, he defeated 89,000 Chu troops, captured Xiangcheng, and recruited 40,000
I am just a general of the Chu army who surrendered..."
After hearing this, there was a sound of gasping in the hall.
At the cost of only more than 5,000 soldiers, the Chu army of 80,000 to 90,000 was defeated?
Also captured Xiangcheng?
And he also recruited more than 40,000 Chu soldiers and generals who surrendered?
It was Tian Huan, the right minister who had just targeted Ji Zhao, who also had his mouth wide open at this moment, with a look of disbelief on his face.
However, Ji Zhao ignored the Qi ministers in the palace, including the right minister Tian Huan. He shook his head and said with a bitter smile: "My brother Hongrun, he has always had a bad habit of not remembering to do it in time."
He had to wait until he was free to send out the victory report. You see, Xiangcheng was captured two days ago.
It will take a few days... There is no way to take him." After saying that, he turned to look at Qi King Lu Xi, cupped his hands and said: "Your Majesty, my brother Ji Run asked your Majesty in the letter to attack Fulisai in the past two days and attract Fu Li.
The idea of Li Sai Chu's army is to facilitate his capture of "Zi County" and "Qi" in Huihe River, and to help the king attack Fu Li Sai."
Hearing this, the whole hall was silent.
Even King Lu Xi of Qi could not conceal his shock at this incident.
Because this means that the progress of the Wei army on the west route is not inferior to that of the army led by Tian Dan on the east route.
What's more important is that the Wei army not only suffered less losses from the battle than Tian Dan's army, but also recruited more than 40,000 Chu soldiers, making its combat power even stronger.
If compared like this, which one is higher and which one is lower?